Bearspaw South Feeder Main repairs move into next phase; no date for lifting restrictions

Calgarians are being told to stay vigilant with their water use as repairs continue on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.

City crews have now finished backfilling all nine sections of the damaged pipe, and work will shift to refilling the line starting Friday, according to officials, who stress the job is not over yet.

“Although we are moving into the next phase of our work, we are not out of the woods yet,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of Infrastructure Services. “Until water is flowing through the pipe, we are still constrained by the amount of water we can move from our plants to your taps.”

Thompson emphasized that there is still no set date for lifting Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions, noting that “a lot of work has to happen underground before that happens.”

Despite the ongoing limitations, Calgarians kept water use in the sustainable range for the second day in a row. The city reported consumption of 483 million litres yesterday, below the 500-million-litre threshold.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas praised residents for their efforts but urged them to keep pushing.

“As we look toward the light at the end of the tunnel, we are doing incredibly well,” he said. “For just a bit longer, we need to stay focused by limiting our showers to three minutes, flushing only when necessary, and running dishwashers and washing machines only when full.”

The city continues to ask residents to save 25 litres of water per person per day by following those conservation steps.

Lane closures remain in place around repair sites as crews complete backfilling and prepare for repaving. Additional closures are planned next week along 16 Avenue NW near 44 Street for construction tied to the replacement pipe.